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Rain Partier

In an attempt to secure victory in The Outhouse's Comic Industrialist of the Year Award, Bleeding Cool's Rich Johnston has claimed that he knows a secret about a Marvel or DC executive that could shut the company down if revealed.

Yeah, you read the headline right. No, this isn't a "joke" story. Let us explain...

No, it is too much. Let us sum up.

Last weekend, we reported on the controversy created when Rich Johnston posted a letter from a nine-year-old cancer patient in order to exploit his plight to gain unique hits and shame Marvel and Dan Slott warm people's hearts. Slott and writer Ron Marz took extreme offense on Twitter, with the former telling all of his followers to unfollow Bleeding Cool.

It seems that Johnston, a man who cannot afford to be made to look ridiculous, learned of the disparagment going on at the Bendis Boards and showed up to defend himself. You see, Johnston took issue with the claims that he will post anything for unique hits, because, he said, he holds a secret about an executive for one of the big two comics companies that, if revealed, would shut down the company for good.

There are many stories that I don't and haven't run for [because I'm trying to do good]. . . . For example, I have one story that could completely and utterly doom one of the Big Two because of the actions of a senior executive many years ago before they came to the company. But if I ran it, that company would have to be shut down, it would be completely tainted, like the News Of The World. If I was a proper journalist, I'd run it. But it would cripple the comics industry and put hundreds out of work. So it stays hidden.

So what the hell does Johnston know? Well, he went on to make an even bolder claim:

Also, reporting it without risk of being litigated against into my grave would be a pig. I can't even risk telling anyone this one because of slander law. The people I heard it from as well risked the same. Basically, like Jimmy Savile, I have to wait for him to die. BTW, it's worse than Jimmy Savile.

So what is a Marvel or DC executive doing that is worse than molesting a shitload of children? What? No, it's not "ruining Spider-Man." What's wrong with you people?

Johnston, who routinely reveals confidential information about Marvel and DC storylines and announcements, is afraid to post the rumors because he could be sued for slander. So we're sure as hell not going to speculate. However, there's nothing stopping all of you from doing so in the forum thread or Facebook comments below, so have at it. Bonus points if you get Johnston to show up to defend his honor. :)

Note: The comments of Outhouse message board posters or Facebook commentators do not represent the opinions of The Outhouse or its staff. We'd sell any of these people out in a minute, so feel free to contact us. No, really. We could even tip you off on a few of these weirdos.

UPDATE: An hour after the initial Reddit posting, Johnston announced his intention to try out for the 2014 British Olympic Backpedaling team with the following statement:

I may have not considered the way corporations can survive outside of scandal, I was probably reacting in the light of News Of The World. This particular case if true is bad, but the worse than Savile was more about the impact on the organisation. And considering the BBC of late that might have been mistaken either. The initial point was that I was being accused of running any story without thinking of the consequences and I picked the biggest example on my head of why that wasn't true. That context seems to have been lost.

&lt;a href='http://www.theouthousers.com/Rich-Johnston-Worse-Than-Pedophilia-Rumor-Generator.php'&gt;Your browser does not support iframes, so please click here to use the Rich Johnston Worse Than Pedophilia Rumor Generator.&lt;/a&gt;

Rain Partier

In an attempt to secure victory in The Outhouse's Comic Industrialist of the Year Award, Bleeding Cool's Rich Johnston has claimed that he knows a secret about a Marvel or DC executive that could shut the company down if revealed.

Yeah, you read the headline right. No, this isn't a "joke" story. Let us explain...

No, it is too much. Let us sum up.

Last weekend, we reported on the controversy created when Rich Johnston posted a letter from a nine-year-old cancer patient in order to exploit his plight to gain unique hits and shame Marvel and Dan Slott warm people's hearts. Slott and writer Ron Marz took extreme offense on Twitter, with the former telling all of his followers to unfollow Bleeding Cool.

It seems that Johnston, a man who cannot afford to be made to look ridiculous, learned of the disparagment going on at the Bendis Boards and showed up to defend himself. You see, Johnston took issue with the claims that he will post anything for unique hits, because, he said, he holds a secret about an executive for one of the big two comics companies that, if revealed, would shut down the company for good.

There are many stories that I don't and haven't run for [because I'm trying to do good]. . . . For example, I have one story that could completely and utterly doom one of the Big Two because of the actions of a senior executive many years ago before they came to the company. But if I ran it, that company would have to be shut down, it would be completely tainted, like the News Of The World. If I was a proper journalist, I'd run it. But it would cripple the comics industry and put hundreds out of work. So it stays hidden.

So what the hell does Johnston know? Well, he went on to make an even bolder claim:

Also, reporting it without risk of being litigated against into my grave would be a pig. I can't even risk telling anyone this one because of slander law. The people I heard it from as well risked the same. Basically, like Jimmy Savile, I have to wait for him to die. BTW, it's worse than Jimmy Savile.

So what is a Marvel or DC executive doing that is worse than molesting a shitload of children? What? No, it's not "ruining Spider-Man." What's wrong with you people?

Johnston, who routinely reveals confidential information about Marvel and DC storylines and announcements, is afraid to post the rumors because he could be sued for slander. So we're sure as hell not going to speculate. However, there's nothing stopping all of you from doing so in the forum thread or Facebook comments below, so have at it. Bonus points if you get Johnston to show up to defend his honor. :)

Note: The comments of Outhouse message board posters or Facebook commentators do not represent the opinions of The Outhouse or its staff. We'd sell any of these people out in a minute, so feel free to contact us. No, really. We could even tip you off on a few of these weirdos.

UPDATE: An hour after the initial Reddit posting, Johnston announced his intention to try out for the 2014 British Olympic Backpedaling team with the following statement:

I may have not considered the way corporations can survive outside of scandal, I was probably reacting in the light of News Of The World. This particular case if true is bad, but the worse than Savile was more about the impact on the organisation. And considering the BBC of late that might have been mistaken either. The initial point was that I was being accused of running any story without thinking of the consequences and I picked the biggest example on my head of why that wasn't true. That context seems to have been lost.

&lt;a href='http://www.theouthousers.com/Rich-Johnston-Worse-Than-Pedophilia-Rumor-Generator.php'&gt;Your browser does not support iframes, so please click here to use the Rich Johnston Worse Than Pedophilia Rumor Generator.&lt;/a&gt;

Rain Partier

[–]richjohnston 1 point 12 hours agoI may have not considered the way corporations can survive outside of scandal, I was probably reacting in the light of News Of The World. This particular case if true is bad, but the worse than Savile was more about the impact on the organisation. And considering the BBC of late that might have been mistaken either. The initial point was that I was being accused of running any story without thinking of the consequences and I picked the biggest example on my head of why that wasn't true. That context seems to have been lost.

Rain Partier

[–]richjohnston 1 point 12 hours agoI may have not considered the way corporations can survive outside of scandal, I was probably reacting in the light of News Of The World. This particular case if true is bad, but the worse than Savile was more about the impact on the organisation. And considering the BBC of late that might have been mistaken either. The initial point was that I was being accused of running any story without thinking of the consequences and I picked the biggest example on my head of why that wasn't true. That context seems to have been lost.

Rain Partier

To be convicted of an accessory charge, the accused must generally be proved to have had actual knowledge that a crime was going to be, or had been, committed

Not quite the same as conspiracy, but, it definitely depends on the crime and if it's as drastic is Rich is saying it is it sounds like it qualifies.

So maybe Sneaky Pete is talking for you?

Hab

Yes, I am sure that a rumor one heard from a third party would get a citizen of the UK convicted as an accessory to a crime.

Also, since you googled that quote, you should also post the rest:

"For a person to legally be found guilty of an accessory offense, the prosecutors must prove that the defendant had knowledge of the crime that was going to be, or had been, committed. The prosecutors must also prove that the alleged accessory had intentionally acted to help the criminal in the commission of the offense. A person who unknowingly houses a person who has just committed a crime, for instance, may not be charged with an accessory offense because they did not have knowledge of the crime. Spouses may also be exempt from accessory charges."

To be convicted of an accessory charge, the accused must generally be proved to have had actual knowledge that a crime was going to be, or had been, committed

Not quite the same as conspiracy, but, it definitely depends on the crime and if it's as drastic is Rich is saying it is it sounds like it qualifies.

So maybe Sneaky Pete is talking for you?

Hab

Yes, I am sure that a rumor one heard from a third party would get a citizen of the UK convicted as an accessory to a crime.

Also, since you googled that quote, you should also post the rest:

"For a person to legally be found guilty of an accessory offense, the prosecutors must prove that the defendant had knowledge of the crime that was going to be, or had been, committed. The prosecutors must also prove that the alleged accessory had intentionally acted to help the criminal in the commission of the offense. A person who unknowingly houses a person who has just committed a crime, for instance, may not be charged with an accessory offense because they did not have knowledge of the crime. Spouses may also be exempt from accessory charges."